Prominent Louisiana Attorney Receives Judge Richard Ware Award

Attorney Richard Ducote, one of the nation’s leading child abuse/domestic violence litigators, was recently presented with the Judge Richard Ware Award. The Award is given annually by the Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund (LCTF) to honor those going above and beyond for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

The Award is named after former chairman of the LCTF, Judge Richard N. Ware, IV, who died in a tragic one-car accident in 1996. Judge Ware, a former resident of Natchitoches Parish, was a star running back at Northwestern State University from 1967-70. He was the color analyst for radio broadcasts of the Demons’ football games for 17 years. Professionally, he presided over the 39th Judicial District for three consecutive terms. He was also the president of the Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges as well as a member of the Children’s Code Committee and the Continuing Revision Committee of the Louisiana Law Institute.

Mr. Ducote has been an ardent advocate for women and children involved in domestic violence cases for the last 32 years. In 1991, he authored the Louisiana Post-Separation Family Violence Relief Act (La R. S. 9:361-369). The law bars abusive parents from serving as custodians and forces them to pay all costs and attorney’s fees. Mr. Ducote’s advocacy has also played an integral part in transitioning hundreds of children from the foster care system into adoptive homes. Mr. Ducote has appeared as a pro hac vice attorney for cases in over 40 states. Mr. Ducote has also been recognized by the National Association of Social Workers, the Young Lawyers Division of the ABA, the LSU School of Social Work, the Louisiana Foster Parent Association and the California Protective Parents Association. Mr.

Ducote was recently brought into an ongoing custody case being heard in the 10th Judicial District.